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(CNN) — Arthur is causing holiday havoc.

The tropical storm churning up the East Coast might be at its most dangerous Thursday as it skirts the North Carolina coast.

Late Wednesday, a mandatory evacuation order was issued for Hatteras Island and a voluntary evacuation order went out to Ocracoke Island.

The weather system is causing problems farther north, too. Officials said Wednesday afternoon that the annual Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular, normally held on July 4, will be moved to Thursday because of the potential for bad weather.

Arthur is expected to become a Category 1 hurricane off the North Carolina coast on Thursday, and although the eye might not hit land, the storm could create dangerous rip currents that day along the Outer Banks and Pamlico Sound, forecasters said.

At 8 p.m. Wednesday, it was still classified as a tropical storm with 70 mph winds, just below hurricane strength.

North Carolina’s governor issued a tropical storm warning for the entire coast and sent this message to those who plan to hit the beaches: Stay out of the ocean.

“I don’t want you to put at risk not only yourself but also people who may try to help you, especially our emergency operation workers,” said Gov. Pat McCrory.

Strong winds could push water to the point where the underwater sandbars in front of North Carolina’s beaches break, creating rip currents that would rush swimmers out to sea, CNN meteorologist Chad Myers said.

“There’s no time for you to react. That’s why you can’t be there at all,” Myers said, describing a danger area from Wilmington north to Nags Head.

“This is not a landfall-problem hurricane. This is a rip-current-problem hurricane,” he added.

As for Independence Day, the storm could send rain to the Washington area during the day, but it shouldn’t spoil most of Friday night’s festivities as it veers away from land.